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Trying to stay off antidepressants - how else can I help myself?

57 replies

applelolly · 30/05/2018 19:37

So.... I came off ads(citalopram 20mg ) on March 1st.I have been on and off them for about 10 years and most recently took them for about 3 years. I reduced really, really slowly over many, many months. I rode out the mad mood swings that I always get initially when coming off them. But 3 months later and I really struggling again.. I absolutely do not want to go back on them for many reasons. I have nothing against using medication when it is needed, and being on these has really helped me in the past. But currently I KNOW that it is really just a lot of contributing stresses and my sitaution that is getting to e me and no amount of medication is going to change that. I cant change my situation much for the next few years so have to find ways to manage it.
I have been doing:
daily meditation - this has helped definitely
more exercise and taken up running again. Now exercising 5 times a week
Eating more healthily - I need to loose a lot of weight - have lost 2 stone so far
Cut down alcohol
Have deliberately cut down on the amount I do for other people around the house - need to continue to work on this
Been reading more and watching less mindless tv

But I'm still struggling! what else can I do to help myself. I seem to be ok through the week when I'm at work but by the end of Sunday evening I am tearing my hair out.

what else have you tried to help with stress/low mood/anxiety?

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Beaverhausen · 30/05/2018 19:42

I suffer from clinical depression and refuse meds. What has helped me is what you have mentioned and also I find reading books and watch in things hat make you laugh. I know it sounds silly but it really does help especially when I feel it creeping up on me again.

Spudina · 30/05/2018 19:49

I'm currently off meds and trying to stay off too. I also find spending time with people, being in nature and natural daylight helps. I do actually like mindless TV. It's escapism I guess. I take up new hobbies and get really into them but then drop them quickly. Lots of unwanted equipment ends up at the charity shop/online. It's all a distraction. You sound like you are doing really well!!

applelolly · 30/05/2018 19:50

thanks beaver I struggle to find things that make me laugh - either tv or books - but that is a good idea. I hope things are good for you just now.

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NC4Now · 30/05/2018 19:52

Do you get outside into green space?

I also find a really good multivitamin works wonders (I do take meds but find the vitamins give me a boost on top).

applelolly · 30/05/2018 19:53

spud I totally do that with hobbies! I have just sold a lot of tropical fish keeping equipment after my last hobby died out! I used to watch a lot of soap operas and gave up Jan , supposedly to free up more time...I do however watch some stuff on netflix and actually when I get into a good series that does help. Good luck with staying off. How long have you been off them?

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applelolly · 30/05/2018 19:54

nc4Now yes, I LOVE being outside. I do love gardening too. I also run outside 3 times a week and try to build in some runs through the woods etc. A multivitamin is a good idea too. Thanks

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FormerlyPickingOakum · 30/05/2018 20:07

Try cutting out caffeine. And watch your sugar intake like a hawk. Are you taking a multivitamin?

And stop all drinking. I know it's shitty, but seriously, you don't need alcohol complicating everything.

One thing you could try is growing something. There's something very grounding about soil and planting.

Also you could try singing. That's helped my DM a lot; she goes to a choir and says it helps her release anxiety and tension.

Also when things get bad, try a tablespoon of cream (if you are not lactose intolerant). Your brain can't process stressors and eating at the same time.

Again, up your veg ratios a lot. I'm talking a plate of the stuff in as many colours as possible for lunch and dinner with a protein. If you are an animal protein eater, make sure you eat fish once a week.

Try morning pages. This is where you write three pages of whatever every morning every day and you don't read them back. It's a brain dump. Get it all cleared out.

Again, try getting into nature as spudina says. If you have a forest, a wood, or a shoreline near you, hit it!

The running is great, BTW.

I'll try and think of some more stuff. It is possible to beat severe anxiety and ptsd without meds. I know; I did it. But it requires sometimes trying some weird ideas out. Grin

Spudina · 30/05/2018 20:10

I stopped about 6 weeks before Christmas. That was my third antidepressant, I've been on and off for years. I really want stay off this time. Good luck to you. And well done for being so healthy! I should exercise that much, I just can't blooming motivate myself!!

FormerlyPickingOakum · 30/05/2018 20:10

Just thought of another...try a dance class. Go for something a bit unusual if you can. Something that gets you into the physicality of your body and pulls you out of your mind.

applelolly · 30/05/2018 20:33

spud that is brilliant - you are doing really well
pickling great ideas - thank you. I think you are right about stopping alcohol for a while. I don't drink a lot currently but still do have a few drinks every weekend. I think that needs to go. I do grow flowers from seed in my greenhouse. and strawberry plants. used to grow veg but ran out of room.! I definitely eat too much sugar, although that is improving as I try to eat better. current breakfast is greek yog (total stuff) with berries, lunch is lots of spinach/salad/tomatoes with chicken/ham/salmon and various dinners all with veg so am trying to improve my eating.
I do an exercise class twice a week which I love, and run 3 times a week.
Love the idea of morning pages. Will try that. An eating a spoonful of cream!
I LOVE singing. I'm booked into a vocal workshop in June that I am really looking forward to.(went to one in April that was brill!) I also am trying to find a local choir actually - I'd forgotten about that but that is a great idea and I need to get back onto that!

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applelolly · 30/05/2018 20:35

and yes, caffeine. I don't have loads but do have one or two coffees every morning so may try to work on that as well.

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applelolly · 30/05/2018 20:36

and meant to say pickling well done!

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outnumberedtiredmum · 30/05/2018 20:49

What an amazing thread.. I am on 10mg of citalopram, lowest I've been on in 8 years and lowest I've been on after having a baby (third child, after the first two went up to 40mg) I do hope to come off in the next year or so.

Have you had any CBT counselling? Do you practice any mindfulness exercises, a lot of people swear by adult colouring!! Listening to music. Hot baths? Hot shower followed by a freezing cold shower? Wakes you up if nothing else!!

NC4Now · 30/05/2018 20:59

Another idea from me: gratitude journal.

Each day write three things you’re thankful for, three wins and three positive actions you are going to take that day.

I’ve done this and twee as it sounds, it does give me a bit of a lift.

(Plus I’m a total stationery geek, so love having a beautiful journal and covering it with twirly writing!)

FormerlyPickingOakum · 30/05/2018 21:33

Caffeine is a weird one. I drank loads in my twenties and thirties, thinking it wasn't a problem.

Until I went caffeine free, just to see if it had any effect. I did six months and then drank a coffee from Costa.

Woah ... never again. I was nearly hallucinating. The world was spiky. Everything jangled. I couldn't stop jittering.

Caffeine is a powerful substance. And it makes you realise just how much we layer these substances on top of each other in modern life: caffeine, sugar, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, artificial hormones, nicotine ... it's a bit of a roller-coaster really.

What I found very interesting (and useful) was reading some of the latest theories about the brain and also what is known as evolutionary psychiatry. Brain Rules by John Medina is pretty good; he outlines what the latest research is about brain optimisation. I played with a lot of his ideas to try and find things that helped me.

On the evolutionary psychiatry front, Emily Deans writes some fascinating articles. She's currently writing for Psychology Today. She's all about using evolutionary ideas to solve mental health problems and looks at nutrition, allergies, and all sorts of environmental stuff, including climate, that may possibly explain modern mental health problems. She's definitely worth a read, though she does get a bit technical.

KenDoddsDadsDogIsDead · 30/05/2018 21:42

This is such an inspiring thread. I wish I could have read these replies years ago. After many decades -for me the most positive move was acceptance. As soon as I managed to just accept me for who I am and stop dreading the black days, and fighting against my own self it has been infinitely easier in general.
We are loved- remember that xx

OurMiracle1106 · 30/05/2018 21:44

Open university do loads and loads of free courses. Maybe look into doing one (or more) of them too.

JalalHooha · 30/05/2018 21:45

Alcohol is a depressant. Im far happier when i dont drink at all.

JalalHooha · 30/05/2018 21:46

Heard good things regarding keto diets and mood.

annandale · 30/05/2018 21:47

It's interesting that you drink at the weekend and then feel worse. I'm no angel and love a drink or more than one, but I know my dh did a lot worse generally when he drank.

SealSong · 30/05/2018 21:47

Some people swear by St Johns Wort, or the supplement 5 HTP.

northerngoldilocks · 30/05/2018 21:56

Echo the vitamin D comments above. Check out the vitamin D council recommendations for dose rather than RDA. Also what about daily yoga in addition to the running? Lots of people like Adrienne ok you tube, I didn't but really like Cat Meffans and the yoganuary sequence is good for every day!

Zofloraborealis · 30/05/2018 22:33

Hypnotherapy and vitamin b12 oral spray.

applelolly · 31/05/2018 07:03

loads of great ideas thanks all.
outnumbered well done on getting down to 10. I do 15 minutes of mindfulness based meditation a day, could do with increasing that. I haven't had CBT. Did have some counselling a few years ago that wasn't helpful.
nc4 I do use a bullet journal and try to write 3 things I am grateful for or that have made me smile each day in that. I have got out of the habit though so will start that up again.
pickling I have read some evolutionary psychiatry stuff - will look out some of those articles thanks
ken acceptance is a very good idea. I struggle a lot with that and I am HUGELY critical of myself so that is definitely something I could work on.
miracle I don't really have time for any courses just now! I work full time, have dc and am also meant to be studying for exams related to my job!
jala annaYou and others are right about the alcohol - it needs to go!
northern I am outside a lot so would hope my vitamin d was OK, but I will look out a good multivitamin as well.
seal I have just bought some 5htp to try. I tried St John's wort a few years ago and didn't find it did anything. I have been looking for a local yoga class to try out but cant find one at a time I can go. I will have a look at youtube I think.
zoflora I will look out some b12 spray. Not sure about hypnotherapy - have you tried it? Did it help you?

so from this wonderful thread I am feeling more positive this morning and have come up with an action plan which I will add to over time ( I cant do too much at once!)

  1. cut out all alcohol. I am going to stop completely for at least one month (June) and see how it goes.
2.Continue with running 3 x a week and 2 x exercise classes.
  1. Increase daily meditation to twice a day (15 mins and 10 mins to start)
  2. work on further improving my diet by trying to reduce sugar
  3. try out some yoga on youtube.
  4. Buy some multivitamins (looking for B vits and D especially)
  5. continue with 5htp for a month to see if it helps
  6. Make sure I write down at least 3 things I'm grateful for each day
  7. Find a local choir to try out

I will build up to giving up caffeine and trying other stuff but that should get me going at least! Smile

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applelolly · 31/05/2018 19:34

positivity didn't last long! I've come home from work feeling just rubbish. The house is a mess, as always. Mountains of washing need doing etc.... and I'm just exhausted. Just cant face doing anything. I actually count down to bed time most evenings just so I can escape into sleep for a few hours. I'm making a rubbish job of parenting, I keep falling short on my diet (have ate endless rubbish today) and am not really getting the studying I'm meant to be doing done at all.
The state of the house drives me mad. The dc (mostly teens) are all incredibly messy and lazy. I can spend hours cleaning/tidying for it to be trashed again hours later. I've tried to stop caring about it but I hate being in the house when it gets so bad. I actually don't want to come home some evenings.
Just want to lie in bed and cry today. :(

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